EXCURSION TO NGANGAO FOREST

Service Description

It is easy to explore Ngangao Forest, thanks to the gentle topography of the area and well beaten paths. For the bird watcher it is classified as an ‘Important Bird Area’ with excellent bird viewing opportunities. Facing west at the Ngangao view point lies the Iyale Forest, 4 km away, recognizable by a prominent summit that is the second highest peak (2,104 ms) on Taita Hills after Vuria. Iyale offers a stunning 360˚ viewpoint and is a great site, underutilized for the most part, for hiking and rock climbing. Ngangao forest campsite, situated not far from Wundanyi town, is well equipped. The neighbouring bare rocks also offer spectacular vantages. Vuria campsite also has beautiful views of the lowland and across to Mount Kilimanjaro. The closed canopy cloud forest of Ngangao, resembling in outlook the tropical rainforests of Central Africa, is located 10 km north of Wundanyi on the eastern side of the north-south oriented Taita Hills, with three central forest fragments: Chawia (86 ha), Mbololo (185 ha) and Ngangao (120 ha) as well as a number of smaller forest fragments. Despite having an imperial floral profile and a splendid forest hike, Ngangao Forest was greatly disturbed by human activities. Managed by the Kenya Forest Service, its biodiversity, rich in lofty indigenous trees, lovely bird species and patches of exotic tree species is best explored on guided tours.